Pneumatic thread holder for weft replenishing looms



SePt- 9, 1952 G. BEATRICE PNEUMTIC THREAD HOLDER FOR WEF T REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed NOV. 2, 1950 l'lhis invention relates Patented Sept. 9, Y1952 "UNIT-ED. STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC THREAD HOLDER FOR WEFT H REPLENISHING LOOMS Gabriel C. Beatrice, Shrewsbury, Mass., assigner to Crompton'da Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass.,'a corporation of Massachusetts Application November z, 195o, serialNe. 193,675

to improvements in pneumatic thread holders for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide simpley means for separating the vseveral weft ends leadingwfrom reserve bobbins of the "to become wrapped on each other or become otherwise entangled -so Athat they cannot be properly drawn into" the thread holder when a weft replenishing operationioccurs.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic thread holder constructed with spacing yelements orthe like withinthe thread compartment close to the thread intake mouth and so located as to separate the threads or weft ends to prevent them from becoming entangled or wrapped on each other.

, In a known form of pneumatic thread Vholder `suchfor instance as shown in prior patents to TurneriNo. 2,476,640 and 2,505,443 .theothread compartment hastheupper end thereof closed by a cover which is raised4 when new bobbins are inserted in the magazine to receive the fresh weft ends. V,11n such a thread holderV the weft ends extendgacross the upper part of the thread compartment and hang from'an outer side of a thread holder `to Abe drawn` into the compartmentwhen the 'cover is closed. It is another object of the present Ainvention to locate the aforesaid spacing elements so that they will extend above the path normally traversed by the weft ends across the upper part ofthe threadcompartment, thereby insuring entry of the weft ends into the spaces be,- tweenV the` elementswhen the cover returns to its normal down position. Y, f

`The latter of the previously mentionedlpatents shows a series of prongs which extend downwardly from the thread holder into `a thread Collector for the purpose of preventing weft endsxfrombe.- ing d rawn out of the holderon the rst pick subsequent to replenishing operations. It is a'further object of the present invention to provide asimple form of unit combining `thepreviously `mentioned 11 Claims. (Cl. 139-247) spacing elements and the prongs, the unit being ,readily attachable to the thread holder. In order that the weft ends may be drawn efficiently into the thread holder the unitis so made that a column of airfentering the thread intake mouth and moving toward the thread collector can pass aroundall sides of the'weft ends. I` i With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, thein vention resides in they combination and arrange-l ment of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are set forth,

Fig.' 1 is a side elevational of part of a weft replenishing loom having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is -an enlarged planview looking in the directionof arrow 2, Fig. 1, j

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section on line3--3,` Fig, 2,

Fig. 4 is aidetail plan View looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3,`

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 3, i i Y Fig. 6` is a perspective view ofV the preferred form of unit, and i l Fig.v 7 is a view similar to a portion of Fig'. 3, but showing the modified form of unit.

i Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame `I supports a top shaft 2 which by connectors one of which is shown at 3 reciprocates a lay 4 backwardly andy forwardly. The loom is provided with a magazine M which in the present instance is of the stationary multicolor type and has a group of weft ends W extending from reserve bobbins B to a thread holder designated generally at H. The holder is mounted on aV hollow thread collector C which in turn is supported by an upright 5.

`An air pump 6 secured to the loom frame is operated by a lever 'l connected by rod 8 to the lay `4. A `hose Yor other flexible hollow connector 9 leads fromthepump forwardly to the lower end of the `collector` C and communicates with `the interiorof the `latter to create subatmospheric pressures therein.; l The thread holder as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 comprises a hollow walled structure including a base I0 formed with an upright inner wall Il', at the left in Fig. 3, an outer wall I2, and connecting front and back walls I3 and i4, respectively. These walls form or enclose a thread compartment I5 the upper part of which is'normally closed by a cover I6 pivoted to the holder as at I1. The upper part of wall Il is formed with a recess i8 which together with the Fig. 3.

adjacent part of the cover I6 forms an elongated horizontal thread intake mouth I9 into which the weft ends W extend. The mouth communivcates pneumatically with the interior of the compartment I5 and a column of air moving into the mouth and through the compartment will be drawn 4downwardly through an opening 2U in the base or oor I0 communicating with the interior of the thread collector C. The upper part of the outer wall I2 is recessed as at 22 to form a second mouth 23 with the cover.

Whenthe loom is in operation the pump 6 will create subatmospheric pressures within the collector C and compartment 'I5.and draw air into the mouth I9 to create tension in the weft threads W. When new bobbins are placed in the magazine their weft ends are slipped under the end 24 of cover I6 to lift the latter and are then moved rearwardly and drawn across the top of the compartment I5 through the recess 22 and released to hang down from the right end of the holder as viewed in Fig. 3. When the cover returns to normal position subatmospheric pressures within the compartment I5 will draw the free ends of the weft threads through vthemouth 23 into the thread compartment and down through the opening into the collector C.`V A set of prongsI 2.5 to be described in more detail hereinafter` is located at one side of the opening 2d, namely the side thereof adjacent the intake mouth I9, and the weft ends will lie valong these prongs and eventually become sufficiently entangled with each other within the collector so that the prongs will preven-t the threads from retrograde movement out of the mouth IS. When a weft end is cut at the selvage it will be drawn into the holder and. traverse a path from mouth i9 through opening 2D into the collector. f

The matter thus far described may be. asset forth in the previously mentioned patents and except as noted hereinafter rforms no part of the present invention.

vIn Ycarrying the present invention into effect there is provided a series or row of thread'spac- L, ing iingers or elements which are located wire, extend in a. series preferably parallel to n.: the mouth I9 andare inclined upwardly Yand away from the mouth as shown for instance in The under surface 3I of theA cover is provided witha downwardly opening groove or slot. 32 extending upwardly from the surface 3l and into which the,` upper ends of the finger or spacing elements extend to points above the under side of the-'cover'. When the later is in vthe normal down position shown in Fig. 3'., therefore, weft threads extending from the intake mouth I9 to theoppoSite-mouth 23 willbe below the tops of the fingers or spacers 3%.

The spacer-s Bil'may be supported by Athe preferred formfof unit shown in Fig. 6'- or by; the modiiied form of unit shown in Fig. '7'. The preferredforin ofunit V35 maybe made of Vsheet metal and has flange -36 tov which-the'spacer elements Sifare secured. YThe-flangeis integral with a hollow pla-te- 3? which leadsto` the Vright and downwardly as viewedirr Fig. 3 and 'is formed. at itsVV sides with ears 33. by which. the unit is secured-to the bottom of base ift-by screws B. 3;? has the previously described .prongs 2.5? see curedy thereto. The'plate' is formed with a A second ange it depending from plate relatively large opening 4I across which the weft ends extend from the spacing elements 30 to lsurface 43 of wall II, thus holding the elements 3Il fixed with respect to the holder. In the modied form of the invention shown in Fig. '7 the unit 45 may be formed substantially Vas the unit except that instead of the opening 4I the plate 46 corresponding to plate 31 is made concave as at 4l to enable air to get under the threads leading from the intake mouth to the opening 26.

In the operation of the invention weft ends from the bobbins B extend through the intake mouth I9 and between the several spacers 30 and are held separated by the latter so that they will notrbecome entangled or twisted with each other. Upon occurrence of a weft replenishing operation the corresponding weft end wil-l therefore be ableto move freely into the thread compartment I5 without interference by neighboring threads. In order to enable the thread thus drawn into the holder te clear itself of the adjacent spacing elements the latter should preferably be inclined suinciently in a direction away from the mouth I9 to enable thethread to slip over the ends of the elements. rlhis result can be accomplished by having the ele'- ments 3@ Yinclined away from mouth I9 and toward the direction in which the threads move toward opening 20. lSince the Iianges 35 and 60 will ordinarily determine the direction of the weft threads as they extend through the thread compartment I5 the thread spacer elements 38 can be secured to the unit 35 so as to be inclined in a direction from flange 36 toward flange 40. This relationship is also desirable for the modined form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 in which the unit 45 has a left handv iiange' 48 corresponding to flange 3S and a right hand flange 49 asY viewed in Fig. 7 corresponding to flange d. The ears 38 preferably are secured to the base lil in such manner as notv to reduce the width lof the opening 2U as will be under'- stood more particularly from Fig. 4, and the prongs 25 extend downwardly from a space between the ears in each form of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be understoodthat the invention sets forth simple means for separating the weft ends leading from the reserve bobbins B into the thread compartment yI5',.this means comprising a plurality of spacing nge'rsv or elements which extendin a. line close tof and preferably parallel to the mouth I9 but within compartment I5. The spacing elements arepreferably inclined in a'direction away from thedirection of` entry of air passing from the mouth I9 to the opening 2t so that theweft' ends of transferred bobbins may clear themselves of adjacent elements 35 when. drawn into the compartment Ir5 subsequentv to cutting after the replenishing operation. The elements 3e preferably extend upwardly so that their top ends are abovev any positionwhich weft ends can occupy in the compartment I5: When. the cover is in itsv normal position. VHssliown herein the cover is provided with a groove 32T to Vreceive the upper ends" of the elements 3d, butV it' is. to be understood that this is no'tthe only way in which the spacing elements can' project above the weft threads extending from the intake mouth I9 along the under side of the cover to the opposite mouth 23. Furthermore, the invention sets forth a simple form of unit having a set of spacer elements for the intake mouth and a series of prongs 25 for the opening 20. The element is so made that air passing from the intake mouth to the opening 20 can act on all sides of the weft ends within the compartment I5. The unit is preferably formed with ears for attachment to the base I0 which locate the left edge of the flanges 36 and 45 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, close to or in engagement with the wall I I and below the mouth I9 to prevent threads from being drawn into the space under the unit.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specic disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a pneumatic thread holder for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a loom, a walled structure enclosing a thread compartment in which subatmospheric pressures exist, the holder having a mouth communicating with the compartment and through which the weft ends extend into the compartment, a cover for the topofsaid i walled structure movable upwardly to permit insertion of weft ends into the compartment, and a series of thread spacers fixed with respect to the structure within said compartment adjacent to said mouth and below the cover to separate the weft ends from each other, said spacers extending upwardly above weft ends extending along the under side of the cover.

2. Ina pneumatic thread holder for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a loom, a walled structure having a recess in the upper part of one of the walls thereof, a cover for the top of the structure forming with said recess a mouth through which the weft ends extend, said walled structure and cover enclosing a thread compartment in which subatmospheric pressures exist and into which the weft ends extend, and a, series of thread spacing iingers fixed with respect to the structure adjacent to said mouth below said cover, the under side of said cover having a slot therein into which the upper ends of said spacer fingers extend, said spacing fingers separating the weft ends from each other. l

3. Ina pneumatic thread holder for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a loom, a hollow structure having a base provided with an opening, a hollow thread collector below the base communieating through said opening with the interior of the hollow structure, means creating subatmospheric pressures within the hollow structureand thread collector, the hollow structure having a thread intake mouth, the weft ends extending through said mouth into said structure and through the opening into the collector, and a series of thread spacers within the hollow structure adjacent the intake mouth extending across the path traversed by the weft ends as the latter extend from the intake mouth to said opening, said thread spacers separating the weft ends from each other.

4. In a combined pneumatic thread holder and thread collector for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a loom, a hollow thread holder having an intake mouth for the weft ends and enclosing a thread compartment, a thread collector in pneumatic communication with said compartment and mouth and within which subatmospheric pressures exist, and a unit within said holder provided with a series of thread spacing elements adjacent to said intake mouth and separating the weit ends, the latter extending into said mouth between said elements and through the thread holder into the thread collector..

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said unit is provided with a series of prongs projecting into the thread collector.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said unit comprises a plate across which the weft ends extend from said spacing elements into said collector, said plate affording access of air moving from the mouth to the collector to all sides of the weft ends.

'7. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said unit has a flange engaging the interior of the holder adjacent to said intake mouth and on which said thread spacingelements are mounted.

8. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said unit is formed with a iiange extending along the intake mouth and supporting said thread spacing fingers and is provided with a second flange on which are mounted prongs extending into the thread collector.

9. A thread spacing unit for a pneumatic thread holder having a hollow thread compartment communicating with a thread intake mouth and within which subatmospheric pressures exist, said unit comprising a plate formed for attachment to the holder within said compartment, a flange formed as part of the `plate to be adjacent to said mouth when the unit is attached tothe holder within the compartment, a second .flange formed as part of the plate spaced from the rst iiange, a series of thread spacing elements xed to the first ange, and a series of prongs xed to the second iiange and extending from the latter in a direction away from said series of spacing elements.

l0. The thread spacing unit set forth in claim 9 wherein the plate has ears extending from said second flange for attachment to said thread holder.

11. The thread spacing unit set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate is formed so as to aiford access of air to all sides of a thread drawn taut from the first flange to the second flange.`

GABRIEL C. BEATRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 784,310 Draper Mar. 7, 1905 943,270 RobinsonV Dec. I4, 1909 2,460,611 Turner Feb. 1, 1949 2,476,640 Turner July 19, 1949 2,505,443 Turner Apr. 25, 1950 

